Reborn

The city burned.

Ashes hung heavy in the air, thick and dark, blotting out the sky. The inferno swallowed everything—homes, streets, temples—all consumed in the hungry blaze. Screams tore through the night, raw voices of men, women, and children alike, rising and falling beneath the roar of the flames. And above it all, the shadow of a massive dragon loomed, its wings casting darkness over the ruined city as it soared through the sky.

Yuji layed on the ground, his body trembling, his vision blurred with smoke and tears. The world around him spun in a nightmare of blood and fire, but his gaze was fixed, on the bodies lying a few feet away. His mother, her form barely recognizable, burnt to a crisp, and his little sister curled up beside her as though she could shield herself from the searing heat.

"Mother… Saori…" His voice cracked, barely a whisper, swallowed by the roaring flames. His fingers clawed at the ground, his fingers bloodied and raw, as he tried to pull himself toward them, his mind refusing to accept the sight before him.

The whole area was shaken by a massive thud, Yuji was sent on his side as the ground shuddered beneath him. The dragon descended once more, a beast of unimaginable size so big he could only see it's head, its dark scales shimmering like molten iron in the firelight. Its maw opened wide, revealing rows of teeth as it unleashed another torrent of flame upon the helpless city. The air itself seemed to ignite, crackling as waves of heat rolled toward him.

Yuji's muscles seized. He tried to lift himself, to run, to fight, but his body was too broken, too weak. All he could do was watch, helpless, as the dragon's fire swept toward him, engulfing everything in its path.

The heat was unbearable. It seared his skin, the pain sharper than any blade, tearing through him as he lay pinned to the ground. Every nerve screamed, his mind splintering under the agony, but even as his flesh burned, one thought remained, sharper than the pain.

I wasn't strong enough... His vision blurred, the world dissolving into a nightmare of red and black. I couldn't protect them…

And yet, as his life slipped away, that single thought gave way to another, deeper and darker, igniting a spark within him.

If I had the chance again... if I could rise from this... Rage surged within him, fierce and unyielding, burning hotter than the flames consuming his body. I would make you pay. I would bring you down, no matter the cost.

As his final breath left his body, Yuji's broken voice was little more than a whisper, a desperate plea swallowed by the flames. "Give me… another chance…"

And with those words, darkness claimed him.

Yuji's senses stirred slowly, pulled from the depths of darkness by a strange, unfamiliar sensation. A cool breeze drifted across his face, carrying with it the scent of earth and wet leaves. Somewhere in the distance, he heard the soft chatter of animals and the rustling of branches. What… where am I? The question floated through his mind, still hazy, as he struggled to grasp where he had last been.

Bits and pieces returned—a flash of fire, the sight of twisted, broken bodies, his mother and sister's faces—and a white-hot anger that surged before everything had gone black.

He inhaled sharply, feeling the strange tickle of soft fur brushing against his cheek. Fur?

Eyes fluttering open, Yuji blinked, squinting against the bright light filtering down through the canopy of trees. Above him, sunlight streamed through a cover of green leaves, creating a shifting mosaic of light and shadow. Birds flitted between branches, chirping softly as they passed.

Slowly, he turned his head to the side, and froze. Two tiny creatures, barley bigger than his hand, were huddled together in the grass, chattering quietly. They were monkeys—small, with bright red fur. They were sound asleep next to him.

Yuji felt his breath hitch. What… why are there… His mind raced, searching for an answer that made sense, but nothing seemed to fit. He glanced down at himself, willing his body to move, and lifted his arm, only to find a tiny, fur-covered limb where his hand should be.

A clawed, monkey's hand.

Panic flooded him, an overwhelming urge to scream building up inside, but before he could react, a bright light flashed across his vision, and a message appeared, hovering just before his eyes in crisp, bold letters.

[System Notice]

Welcome, Host!

You have successfully bonded with the "Origin Beast Reincarnation System."

This system is designed to guide and support you in your journey.

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Initial Reward Unlocked:

 Basic Agility Boost- Your body becomes more agile and swift for a short period of time (60 seconds).

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[Quest: First Steps]

Adapt to your surroundings and learn to move in your new form.

Reward: Basic Cultivation Manual (Beast Adaptation)

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Remember: growth begins with the first step. Good luck, Host!